How does Oundle approach pastoral care?

Pastoral care at Oundle is not an add-on – it is central to School life. We recognise that adolescence can be complex and we see it as our responsibility to help pupils celebrate their growing maturity while also supporting them through personal challenges. At the heart of this care is a commitment to knowing each pupil as an individual, and ensuring that they feel seen, heard and valued.

Each pupil belongs to a close-knit House community, where they are supported by a dedicated team: a Housemaster or Housemistress (Hsm), Deputy Hsm, Matron and Tutors. Together, they create a structure of support that is warm, consistent and deeply rooted in relationships. The Tutor system operates vertically within each House, allowing Tutors to build strong, lasting connections with their tutees, and to act as the main point of contact for both families and staff.

We believe the best care happens in small groups. Tutor groups usually include around 8–10 pupils and House year groups typically number around 12. These familiar sizes ensure that even in a large school, no pupil is ever overlooked. As one member of staff notes, “You have to be quite talented to hide at Oundle.”

Pastoral care is also supported by the Health Centre, the Emotional Wellbeing team and the Chaplaincy, who are directly involved in pastoral decisions. Our Learning for Life programme complements this provision by helping pupils navigate adolescence with confidence, encouraging informed, reflective discussion around the challenges and opportunities they face. Parents are included in this journey, with regular communication and shared resources to ensure a joined-up approach to care.

At every stage, Oundle’s pastoral system is about partnership – between pupils, staff and families – with the shared goal of helping every pupil thrive.

Find out more about our boarding community and approach to pastoral care here.